Drivers are driving faster on empty roads than normal
Deaths from shock have increased to previous levels of the pandemic
Photo:
ETIENNE LAURENT / EFE
In spite of the Loss of traffic in Los Angeles during the coronavirus pandemic, the number of people who have died this year from car accidents is now almost the same as a year agoauthorities said Thursday.
In the last two weeks of March, when the city entered confinement, there were a steep drop in deaths from this cause. However, less than two months later, the Los Angeles Police Department is seeing a "Alarming increase" in deaths from car crashessaid the deputy head of the department, Blake Chow.
The increase in deaths is related to the fact that streets and highways are emptier than normal and cars run faster and also with more people walking or cycling, according to the police.
Speed has increased by 30% on some streets and law enforcement officers have turned to technology to try to stem these increases. For example, they have programmed most of the city's 5,000 traffic lights to keep night settings all day, as indicated Los Angeles Times.
So far in May, 21 people have died in car accidents. In the city they have passed away this year almost as many people by car accident as by homicidesaid Commander Marc Reina, who oversees the operations of the traffic department.
Before the order to stay home, every 36 hours (on average) there was a fatal accident, Reina said. After March 19, the index dropped to one every two and a half days.
Now, as business resumes and cars hit the streets, drivers have to "get used to the fact that there are more people on the streets", considers Chow. Each of them, he adds, must take special care to spot people on foot, by bike, with baby seats or in cars.
